<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

After trying to deal with a local pharmacy which was trying to be helpful and
still not getting all the information that was needed, we contacted the Mass
Department of Public Health and spoke to someone that was knowledgeable.

Some hints.

All drug companies must, by federal law, keep track of their drugs by lot or
batch number.  This is on any bottle that the pharmacist has.  When he calls
the drug company tell her/him to refer to that lot or batch number.  Then the
company must know who made that batch and should be able to check with them.
We now insist that our pharmacist also record the batch/lot number on the
label on the bottle or container that he/she gives us and also on the record
he keeps when he /she fills a prescription.  This way we we can be exact if
we have any problems.

We have doctors write out prescriptions stating
  -- no gluten from wheat rye oats or barley
  -- do not use generics
  -- compound if necessary
  -- record lot/batch number

We have found compounding pharmacists who can make up capsules if no
comercial, gluten free source can be found.

We have worked with our insurance company to get pre-approval of medications
which may be more expensive than usual.

We are having luck with Stokes pharmacy in New Jersey when local distributers
have been unwilling to provide local pharmacies with needed products.

Irma in MA